Redwings Ada Cole Horse Sanctuary

Last weekend we visited the Redwings Ada Cole horse sanctuary in Essex. Redwings are the largest horse sanctuary in the UK and their Ada Cole centre is home to over 70 horses, ponies & donkeys and a pair of goats. Redwings rescue, rehabilitate and rehome hundreds of horses every year. Horses that have been abandoned or neglected by their owners find a lovely and caring home in one of the Redwings sanctuaries.

This was our first visit to a Redwings sanctuary and it was wonderful being able to walk around and see the horses, ponies and donkeys in a natural environment. All the animals looked well taken care of and loved. Some of the horses were inquisitive and friendly while some were a little shy. My favourite was a Welsh Gelding called Mickey. What an adorable and friendly fellow! Mickey was born with a twisted nose and needs regular checks by vets. He has been living at Redwings since 2015. We learnt that he is one the most sweet natured horses at the centre and he indeed is. He likes the attention he gets and loves to be petted.

Mickey (above)

The day we visited it was the birthday party for one of the horses - Dolly. Dolly was stuck in a ditch for three days before she was rescued and bought to Redwings. On her special day, Dolly enjoyed a lovely grooming session before taking centre stage. There was a special parade and all the visitors who had gathered near the paddock got to meet her. A cake was also made specially for her!

Overall, it was a lovely visit. We were there for about an hour and a half and loved it. It is a beautiful setting with wonderful animals and friendly staff.

Entry is free and there is a free car park too. A donation is suggested or you can adopt one of the horses or ponies for just £12.50 a year. For more information, visit www.redwings.org.uk